Vernon "Gene" Kauffman, 84, of Chenoa passed away at 1:15 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2012 at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa with Father Carl LoPresti officiating. Interment will follow in Chenoa Cemetery, Chenoa with military rites by Chenoa VFW and American Legion.

Visitation will be 9 to 11 am, prior to the services on Tuesday also at the memorial home in Chenoa.In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be directed to Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Gene was born August 5, 1927 in Bloomington; the son of John C. and Harriet (Tacey) Kauffman. He married Marilyn Masso on February 6, 1954 in Chenoa. She survives in Chenoa.

Also surviving are one son, Christopher (Vickie) Kauffman of Bloomington; one daughter, Sandi (Jay) Zehr of Chenoa; four grandchildren, Adam Kauffman of Deerfield; Marine Sgt. Aaron Kauffman of N'Djamena Chad, Africa; Kevin Zehr of Normal; Lisa Zehr of Chenoa; two sisters, Mildred Harris of Flanagan; Delores Bailey of Palatine; two brothers, Robert (Teresa) Kauffman of Decatur, GA and Thomas (Wanda) Kauffman of Chenoa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, Nicholas Kauffman and five brothers, Lyle, John "Jack", Paul "Jake", Marcellien "Buck" and James "Sug" Kauffman.

"Beanard" served our country in the US Navy in the WWII area and was a lifetime member of the Chenoa VFW and American Legion. He was employed for over 25 years at Weber Plumbing and Heating Inc., Fairbury.

"Beanard" enjoyed spending his summers on Lake Bloomington in his Pontoon Boat with family and friends and his winters snowmobiling in Wisconsin and Michigan. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community for all the loving care "Beanard" received while in their care. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother and uncle and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.